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  3. Many of the most damaging and life threatening types of weather, such as torrential rains and severe thunderstorms, begin quickl

Many of the most damaging and life threatening types of weather, such as torrential rains and severe thunderstorms, begin quickl

admin2013-01-03  8
问题 Many of the most damaging and life threatening types of weather, such as torrential rains and severe thunderstorms, begin quickly, strike suddenly, and disappear rapidly, de-stroying small regions while leaving neighboring areas untouched. Conventional (普通) computer models of the atmosphere have limited value in predicting short-lived local storms because the available weather data are generally not detailed enough to allow com-puters to see clearly the small atmospheric changes that come before these storms. In most nations, for example, weather-balloon observations are taken just once every twelve hours at location typically separated by hundreds of miles. With such limited data, conventional forecasting models do a much better job predicting general weather conditions over large re-gions than they do forecasting specific local events.
Until recently, the observation-intensive approach needed for accurate, very short range forecasts, or "nowcasts", was impracticable. The cost of equipping and operating many thousands of conventional weather stations was extremely high, and the difficulties involved in rapidly collecting and processing the raw weather data from such a network were beyond overcoming. Fortunately, scientific and technological advance have overcome most of these problems. Radar systems, automated weather instruments, and satellites are all capable of making detailed, nearly continuous observations over large regions at a rela-tively low cost. Communication satellites can transmit data around the world cheaply and immediately, and modern computers can quickly compile and analyze this large volume of weather information. Meteorologists (气象学家) and computer scientists now work together to design computer programs and video equipment capable of transforming raw weather data into words, symbols, and vivid graphic displays that forecasters can interpret easily and quickly. As meteorologists have begun using these new technologies in weather forecasting offices, nowcasting is becoming a reality.
Nowcasts used to be impracticable because______.
选项 A、there were no conventional computers
B、the cost of the equipping and operating was sky-high
C、there were no difficulties in data processing
D、there were not enough meteorologists
答案B
解析 本题属于询问细节题。与原文第二段第二句，即“The cost of equipping and operating many thousands of conventional weather stations was extremely high”对应。故B为正确答案。
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